Tourism in Accy
 

One of the stated aims of Hyndburn Borough Council is to raise the public profile of the Borough by encouraging tourism. In the last few weeks we have had a Continental Market, a procession of community groups carrying decorated bed sheets on poles, a municipal cake cutting at the Town Hall and a new flower bed at the end of Hyndburn Road.

I don't know about anyone else, but somehow I don't think that HBC has quite got it's act together on this.

Has anyone seen this months 'Lancashire Life'? It has a four page spread on the annual Transport Festival, regarded as one of the major transport festivals in the North West. It has been going now for twenty years and draws crowds numbered in the tens of thousands.And this in a small, one industry, town!

Sort of makes the procession to mark Hyndburns 30th Birthday look a bit sad. Or maybe you disagree? What do you think could or should be done to turn Hyndburn into a tourist hotspot and make the Borough a place that people would want to visit and keep coming back to? :confused:

Re: Tourism in Accy
 

Accrington never has, nor ever will be, a tourist attraction...simply that.

HBC should concentrate on making the town habitable, and attractive to its inhabitants. The only thing I can remember being an "attraction" in Accy was the open Market on Tuesdays & Fridays. However, any market requires good, competitive stalls and traders who will only come to the town because there will be lots of people at the markets. Since the days of the market at the rear of and around the market hall we have had many attempts at different locations all without success.

If the town is full of "dog dirt", empty shops, and yobs...nobody will come and no decent market traders will either.

I cannot see anything else viable that will upgrade Accy to a normal decent town (in that I really mean the town centre). HBC should get back to basics, and stop dreaming (and wasting money at the same time).
Sorry to be so despondent...but I think it's true!!

Re: Tourism in Accy
 

My sentiments exactly Doug...short of razing all of Hyndburn to the ground then making a lake in the middle surrounded by massive floral gardens and the worlds biggest rollercoaster planted on top of the coppice (next to the biosphere of course.....) there is NOTHING that can be done.

I agree that we should get back to basics and address the problems that we are currently facing. How could we ever hope to attract tourists when the town centre is a disgrace, little ghetto-type residential areas have sprung up and idiots and bits of kids roam the streets drinking and dropping their detritus all over the streets?

Like you Doug its seems that I am always slagging off Accrington/Hyndburn and HBC's ineptitude but I do for good reason. I love Accrington having been born and bred here, I love the friendliness of the majority of people, its history and of course its football team. I have also lived in places such as Guildford, Leicester and Norwich and have seen by comparison what a dive Accy has become (fair enough I'm comparing to bigger towns and cities but you get my point). If there was some initiative to applaud then I would do so - but unfortunately our council just seem to come up with schemes designed to waste money. Accrington has changed a lot even in my short lifespan and not for the better - I sincerely hope that this decline can be arrested.

Re: Tourism in Accy
 

[QUOTE=Ceejache]My sentiments exactly Doug...short of razing all of Hyndburn to the ground then making a lake in the middle surrounded by massive floral gardens and the worlds biggest rollercoaster planted on top of the coppice (next to the biosphere of course.....) there is NOTHING that can be done.

Like you Doug its seems that I am always slagging off Accrington/Hyndburn and HBC's ineptitude but I do for good reason. QUOTE]

HI Ceejache,

That would be Darby not Me (Doug) I am the good looking one. But no offence taken. I personlly would be tempted to agree with both points, but should we not do something to change attitudes not only of HBC but the locals as well.

Re: Tourism in Accy
 

QUOTE Doug:
I personlly would be tempted to agree with both points, but should we not do something to change attitudes not only of HBC but the locals as well.

Your point is very valid Doug...I wish I knew how to change local attitudes in this day & age.

As for HBC, the only thing they understand is pressure from above or votes against them at the next election....we are mere mortals.

Re: Tourism in Accy
 

The council could spend some of this money they keep wasting!!!!! on Enforcing the laws on littering and dog fouling.....That would be a good start in making the area "acceptable" before they try and make it "appealing".......

Re: Tourism in Accy
 

Accrington never has, nor ever will be, a tourist attraction...simply that.

yes i agree!! they should make it a place where peole are comfortable i also think that they should listen to the public views on certaion things. after all, we have to live here!

Re: Tourism in Accy
 

I would have thought the way to make Accrington a thriving town again was to take it back to its roots and encourage industry. It is a town built on, and for, industry. You are in the position of having excellent Motorway links and you have many industrial type buildings which could be utilised. Your council needs to offer some incentives to different industries to bring their businesses there, particualarly manufacturing. Your local institutions of further education need to offer training to the workforce in whatever industries you do attract and this would be a further encouragement for companies to bring their businesses to the area. They need cheap buildings, low rates and a skillful/diligent workforce. I think that Accrington has the ability to offer all of these. England's wealth was built on the hard work of the northern people of Lancashire and Yorkshire. They just need a chance to repeat the process.

Re: Tourism in Accy
 

I agree with one thing.... Yes you (a few people on here) do seem to be knocking Accrington and Hyndburn all the time.. It gets quite depressing to read..

I look at the place from a different point of view.. I was not born here and have moved here as an adult wiht my family and after 15 years I would never dream of moving away.. I love the place...I ahve kids born here and I am more than settled and consider this to be my home town so much so that I feel I ahve always lived here :)

Its far better than living in a big city type area.... As for all the problems you mentione re dog dirt and teenagers blah blah... well .... it's not exactly unique to hyndburn is it?

If your quest is to make Accy some sort of buetifuul, clean, crime free place of perfection then your going to have a very busy but wasted life.

Accy/Hyndburn has its problems.. No more than your average I am sure..


Your making too big a thing of this tourist lark... most towns have a tourist section as part of the council... why make such a big song and dance about it?

Lets be positive for a change eh ? :) Be proud of Accrington

Re: Tourism in Accy
 

I agree kipax but I think most of us are being negative about the council's failures to do right by our beloved town :) I too have moved from a city (manchester) and would never go back....

But surely we can be positive about accrington:) yet remain unhappy about things going on here :(

:):)

Re: Tourism in Accy
 

Yes.. I am not suggesting everyone walk around with a smile on there face and not complain.... Its just that I only see the complaining on here and very very rarely see a nice thing said about Accy... It would be nice to balance out the moaning a bit :)

Re: Tourism in Accy
 

Proud I am....Born in Burnley but bred in Accy since 1945......and proud of it....

But also realistic. I'm not knocking Accy or anybody's attempts to improve the place. But if you can remember Accy in the 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's, and look at it now, you'll know what I mean.

Accy had pride, cleanliness, and honest straightforward people, who knew how to behave and treat all other people with friendliness and kindness.

Not that the rest of the world has improved, and Accy stood still, but to put the clock back is impossible and would really make no sense. Realism and sensible ideas, well implemented by a council who not only say they care, but actually put into practice what they say. All bearing in mind, that Accy is not the richest town, not the most fortunate town, but a good town neverthless, and basic improvements are what everybody wants and would benefit from.

Cut your cloth according to your wealth!!!! and no waste for dogmatic ideas!

Re: Tourism in Accy
 

Ok I’m not trying to pass the work over to others but, at the moment I am working and I’m stuck in B***** Blackpool so it’s not an easy task to do from here.

What do people think about setting up two separate threads that can be linked at a later date?

Thread One.

What’s good about Accrington, what makes you proud?

Thread Two.

What’s left of our local heritage that we can preserve and promote as a tourist asset?

This should include our famous people and their home’s, their influences on the area and family histories.

Local Beauty spots, we have a few….

Local Industrial Heritage sites (What’s Left)

Architecture, History, Archaeology and its PEOPLE along with all the other little things that make what it is

Re: Tourism in Accy
 

Sorry Doug.

Yes Accringtons/Hyndburns problems aren't unique I agree yet the problems will not get better until the council stop wasting money on crap like the 30th anniversary for a start - what a pointless exercise that was! Like I said I am proud to be from Accy, but would I move away to a nicer place if the chance arose - YES, its only friends and family that keep me here. Like I said the problems aren't unique but that doesn't mean I should accept it or be happy about it - if my football team was in the relegation zone I wouldn't say it was ok because two other teams are also there, I would want improvement and for the team to be amongst the challengers, and thats what I want for Accy/Hyndburn. There is no such thing as a crime-free, totally clean place as we both know Kipax, but we would be way below the average I would say.

Re: Tourism in Accy
 

Maybe the attitude of us locals does need to change, but as someone pointed out earlier the majority cant be bothered to be bothered. We all have our JOBS to go to and worry about etc. so why should we have to do something to change the borough when that is the JOB of HBC. Why should we take on extra work to compensate for others not doing their JOBS. If we did our jobs to a sub-standard level then what would you expect to happen...?

Re: Tourism in Accy
 

You people and those who live around you put the nice people of HBC in the Jobs they hold. They are your representatives, you don't need me to tell you this......Kick some A***s around there and let them know you are not happy....let them know that they are not necessarily safe come the election....See what Happens.

If the people of this site and or, the people of Accrington are that despondent then it's time for the little people to stand up and challenge the system. You may not win, but you will be heard and that's when those that can win get off there backsides....

Come on Shortstuff, I'll hold ya coat..........

Re: Tourism in Accy
 

We need to have pride in who and what we are......When I joined this site a lot of people helped me, mostly through the pm system. So people in general didn't know just what level of help and support I received, I can tell you that their help and support made me cry…not because I’m soft, because I certainly am not. It was pride...a group of people I’ve never met went out of their way to help me. My people, the people of Accrington and her satellites. YOU PEOPLE. Have some pride in yourselves and get your town back.

Re: Tourism in Accy
 

In reality HBC is US...or they represent US....Apathy is when we believe that the responsibility is somebody elses.

But CJ, we should be the ones who get HBC changed to do what we think is right and not believe what they say, but by the results they produce.

OK, I'm not on my soap-box and actually I think yourself, myself, a couple of others all have the right opinion on the matter. It simply boils down to; "who is going to do what about it" . We can all complain, and often do, but when it comes down to "push not shove" we are limited to what we can actually do. I'm in E. Germany, Doug is elsewhere, you're somewhere in Accy (I believe), and many others (JohnW etc.) are spread around.
With the best will in the world, we are very limited!! But there's always the power of the pen!! And that's perhaps somewhere where we can be effective.

Besides some of us have to work as well!

There are non so blind as those who cannot / will not see.!!

Re: Tourism in Accy
 

Meaning what exactly?

Re: Tourism in Accy
 

Accy Razed, just for Ceejache.

Re: Tourism in Accy
 

The views I expressed concerning apathy were meant to represent the majority of residents and not myself. I certainly do care about local/national and global issues and I have always hated injustice with a passion - I am certainly not blind thanks Darby!

The thing is though - who really has the time to really get on the cases of 'them'. In this increasingly hectic world of work, family, social and pastime it is surely hard for people to find time to carry out such action. It is a shame but I think that is the way most people feel. Others obviously couldn't care less what is going on around them as long as they are ok.....

Maybe instead of posting on here I will bombard the HBC website stating my concerns - that is something all of us contributors can do eh? It probably wont make a difference but like Doug and Darby said it will let them know that we aren't gonna sit and take it up the arse - I'm willing to give it a try (e-mailing HBC that is.....!)

Just off to read my Che Guevara book.......

Re: Tourism in Accy
 

Thanks Acryllic.....! Thought you'd messed around with photoshop looking at the thumbnail, then realised it was some other viaduct!

Re: Tourism in Accy
 

Funny that, coincidental you might say.

I have just been to the council website to retrieve the email address of my councillor and have just sent a very sweetly worded note asking him to come along and have a look at our threads. I'm not going to hold my breath while I wait for a reply though.

I have a question for you all, do you think I should copy this message to all councillors or would you each prefer to approach your own councillor on your own?

Ceejache, please don't stop posting here. We need to keep everyone together, and for everyone to do whatever they feel they can. And whether that is a little or a lot, is not really important. What is important is the community. The community of likeminded individuals who can act together to produce change. Of course we may fight like cats in a bag from time to time, so what, we are human and that is what humans do.

I think that your idea to bombard the council with emails is brilliant. I'd be more than happy to join in with that. I think that we should do all the community groups too.

Some letters to the editors of The Observer and The Telegraph would be a good move too, especially if they contained the Accyweb address.

A list of demands might also be a good idea.

We could also do with someone who is prepared to be a 'face' for our community. A real people person, but someone preferably with a tongue like a chainsaw for when the need arises.

When I started this thread this morning I never expected that it would provoke such a passionate response. I have to say I am pleasantly surprised and grateful to all of you who have taken the time to contribute. Don't stop now, were only just getting going, there is a lot to do.

Re: Tourism in Accy
 

Good stuff....might as well copy the message to all councillors and we can email them ourselves as well. I am willing to write letters and send emails no problem - I am away tomorrow for the weekend (Thame in Oxfordshire....now that place is nice) but will start being a thorn in collective backsides upon my return - my first demand will be a breakdown of the £30,000 it took for the cog to be installed.

I had no intention of quitting here Acryllic.....what I meant was that maybe I should spend less time posting here when I could spend it pestering HBC via t'internet....sorry if it read like I was inferring otherwise! Yeah, we sometimes have digs but I know people dont really take it that serious when it does happen.....with forums it is also hard to express 'tone of voice' in one's message if you will!

Re: Tourism in Accy
 

Brilliant! copies are going in the morning.

It feels good to be doing something. This town has been my home for most of the past forty-eight years, and during that time I have veered from loving it to hating it and back again so many times I have lost count.

Jeanette Winterson had it just about right, I think, when she described Accrington as " A town without glamour or excitement." It's just my home. I don't need it to be either glamorous or exciting, I can go to visit other places for that. I just want it to be right, which it isn't at the moment.

Re: Tourism in Accy
 

So your plan is to attack the council and the observer by bombarding them with emails and letters and being a thorn in there backside (as you put it) and demanding to know X,Y and Z. Having read the thread that seems to be your intentions.. Not only that. but you also intend to use accyweb address and tell them to come here and look at the threads.

Is that right?


Wouldn't a polite letter to the person responsible asking them the same question get better results?

Re: Tourism in Accy
 

I don't think it's asking too much for the town to be kept clean. Not long ago I visited Peterborough and didn't see one scrap of litter or dog mess in the town. I'm not saying people didn't drop any but there were street cleaners in evidence all the time.

I know we do have street cleaners here but there doesn't seem to be enough of them to keep on top of things.

Also I've noticed a lot of boarded up (council?) property which gives the place a derelict appearance. If we got rid of the houses which are falling down, did up the ones which could be habitable and kept the town clean it would go a long way to attracting visitors. Then we could look at feature attractions after that.

Re: Tourism in Accy
 

No we don't intend to 'attack' the council. But we do intend to let as many people as possible know about our concerns. Yes we will be demanding answers to questions, as is our democratic right. Do you see anything wrong in promoting the forum through letters to the editors of the local press? I don't. Perhaps it may go some way to persuading them to allow a link to their websites. Polite letters are what we will write. Though I think it's a bit odd you should think that we would write anything else.

Re: Tourism in Accy
 

I dont think you would write anything other than a polite letter...why put words in my mouth.. It was the AMOUNT of letters.. I was merely suggesting a less aggresive aproach and that one letter may get you the answers you want..

Sorry i spoke :(

Re: Tourism in Accy
 

Fair point, no need to apologise.

To be flippant for a moment, I prefer the Cecil B. de Mille approach myself; "Start with an earthquake and build to a climax!" But then I have never taken anything seriously, except the people and places that I care about, and I find to my surprise that I do care about this town. And it was your thread that helped push the realisation to the fore. Thanks mate!

Re: Tourism in Accy
 

At least you're not being apathetic are you Bob?

Re: Tourism in Accy
 

No, I am trying not to be.

I look at things this way; I am just an ordinary bloke, there is nothing special about me, but if by a little work and the use of what skills I have I am able to make a difference, however small, then that has surely got be worth more than just sitting on my bum and chucking the odd sarky comment into the debate, which is what I usually do. And if I can do that, then anyone else can do it too!

I don't want to set myself up as a shining example of civic mindedness, or anything like that. I just want to see what 'I' can do.

To be honest, I have been fed the ' there's nothing you can do, don't make waves.' line for the last forty odd years and, to my shame, I swallowed it. During that time I have watched the town slide further and further. I realise now that the only way to get something done is to get off your bum and do it yourself, because if you wait for someone else to do it, it just won't get done.

Perhaps getting older and more cantankerous has something to do with it. Or it may be that I don't think that I have too many more years of useful life left and I want to make the most of what remains. But I would like to make some difference. Even if that is only in encouraging others to have a go.

Re: Tourism in Accy
 

That makes sense.

Also if you look at it from HBC point of view ........... if they do something which they think is a good idea or what they think the people of Hyndburn want (such as removing a clock which people have grumbled about since the day it was put there) and no-one says anything to the contrary to them but simply mutters and grumbles amongst themselves then the council will never know that they HAVEN'T acted with our approval.

If on the other hand a number of people voice their opinions to the contrary and either write to or email the council then at least they'll be aware of public opinion. The more people who say to the council "Oi, we liked that!" then the more they will realise what public opinion in Hyndburn is.

It's OK just saying "vote them out if you don't like what they do" but if they don't know what we'd like them to do then voting in a different lot wouldn't necessarily improve things in the direction we want.

I think what I'm really trying to say here is "good on yer Bob"

Re: Tourism in Accy
 

Maybe the word 'Bombard' and the phrase 'thorn in the backsides' were a little too aggressive I admit but were not meant to be taken literally. I have no intention of writing wrathful emails or such demanding this, that and t'other, I have never been anything other than polite when dealing with people, authority etc as I have never felt that an aggressive attitude gets one anywhere in situations. Indeed it would be pointless to attack the Accy Observer with mail as they have no sway in the scheme of things, a couple of letters printed in the relevant pages of said newspaper might bring the issues to the attention of a wider audience however. One letter to the council will probably not get an adequate response or even A response, but as residents and taxpayers we are entitled to do whatever is neccessary within law to gain answers to questions on issues which affect us - we would just be exercising our democratic right and if it takes countless letters and emails then so be it. If we got replies to our questions after one such correspondance then great.....but I feel that it will take some badgering on our part and if that is so then so be it!

Re: Tourism in Accy
 

I think the idea of asking them to visit and read some of the threads would show HBC that the lack of faith shown in them as administrative representatives of the borough is widespread and disturbing. As long as no-one has posted slanderous and offensive musings concerning their 'rule' then I don't see a problem.